CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC Decreases Stake in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC lessened its holdings in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 10.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,105,996 shares of the company’s stock after selling 984,362 shares during the period. AstraZeneca makes up approximately 1.0% of CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $539,697,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund raised its position in AstraZeneca by 110.0% in the third quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 112,569 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,770,000 after acquiring an additional 58,970 shares during the period. CreativeOne Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $211,000. Financial Counselors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. now owns 6,833 shares of the company’s stock worth $532,000 after purchasing an additional 287 shares during the period. PEAK6 Investments LLC lifted its stake in AstraZeneca by 16.1% in the third quarter. PEAK6 Investments LLC now owns 18,001 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,402,000 after purchasing an additional 2,501 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in AstraZeneca by 0.9% during the third quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 44,514 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,468,000 after purchasing an additional 402 shares during the period. 20.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ AZN opened at $73.79 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $73.55 and a 200-day moving average of $71.67. The stock has a market cap of $228.84 billion, a PE ratio of 32.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 0.93. AstraZeneca PLC has a fifty-two week low of $62.75 and a fifty-two week high of $87.68.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.05). AstraZeneca had a net margin of 13.01% and a return on equity of 32.23%. Equities research analysts anticipate that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 earnings per share for the current year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st were issued a dividend of $1.03 per share. This represents a yield of 2%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. This is a positive change from AstraZeneca’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio is 91.15%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on AZN shares. Morgan Stanley started coverage on AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating on the stock. UBS Group upgraded AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $89.75.

AstraZeneca Company Profile

AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of prescription medicines. The company’s marketed products include Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Lynparza, Calquence, Enhertu, Orpathys, Truqap, Zoladex, Faslodex, Farxiga, Brilinta, Lokelma, Roxadustat, Andexxa, Crestor, Seloken, Onglyza, Bydureon, Fasenra, Breztri, Symbicort, Saphnelo, Tezspire, Pulmicort, Bevespi, and Daliresp for cardiovascular, renal, metabolism, and oncology.